Merck (MRK-1.3%) gets no love today from the FDA's approval of Liptruxet late Friday, as the stock is likely dragged down with the rest of the big pharma names on the back of a CNBC report that criticizes their earnings so far. The article points to the fact that pharmaceutical companies have seen a 4.7% contraction in earnings, and a 3.2% drop in revenue this quarter. Why? Morningstar's Damien Cover says there are two primary reasons: FX impact, especially from the yen, and intensified generic competition from patent losses.

Pure pharmaceuticals players, like AstraZeneca (AZN), Bristol-Myers (BMY) and Eli Lilly (LLY), are likely to face higher earnings pressure over the next three years than more-diversified firms like J&J (JNJ) or Bayer (BAYRY.PK), says Fitch. Cash-rich pure-players with a relatively weak R&D pipeline, like AZN, may be tempted to go on buying sprees.

Express Scripts (ESRX+2.5%) says prescription drug spending fell to 2.7% growth in 2011 - the slowest pace in 18 years - due to the introduction of generic medicines that tempered price increases. The company notes that the average co-payment for consumers fell to $12.02 a prescription from $12.10 a year before.

Push comes to shove as pricey life-saving cancer drugs run up against government austerity programs and private payers unwilling to share costs for drugs that run as high as $100K a year. While Big Pharma argues that advanced technology will save money on the development side, companies such as PFE, BMY, RHHBY, and BAYRY.PK run the risk of seeing reduced profits with government-mandated price cuts for their most expensive drugs.

Downsizing: Only two of the top ten drugmakers increased their promotional spending last year, according to analysis from Cegedim Strategic Data. Overall, global investment on sales and marketing declined 3.4% to $92B.

The PowerShares Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Portfolio (Fund) is based on the Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Intellidex Index (Index). The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in common stocks that comprise the Index. The Index is designed to provide capital appreciation by thoroughly evaluating companies based on a variety of investment merit criteria, including fundamental growth, stock valuation, investment timeliness and risk factors.
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